Blizzards

What is a Blizzard?

The first thing you must know is that a snowstorm is NOT a blizzard. A snowstorm is when snow falls from the sky as precipitation. A blizzard is essentially the worst kind of snowstorm there is. The National Weather Service defines blizzards as snowstorms with sustained 35 mph winds, blowing snow, visibility less than 500 ft, a wind chill less than -15 degrees Fahrenheit, and lasting at least 3 hours.

How are Blizzards Made?

1. The jet stream "dips", and cold, dry air from the north moves south.
2. Warm, moist air from the south flows north.
3. These two air masses meet, and a blizzard results!

A weather map of the famous Blizzard of 1993, a cyclonic storm that hit from Canada to Central America on the east coast.

A clipping from the Cleveland Plain Dealer about a November blizzard.

Photo Sources: Dogpile Images

Bibliography

http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/winter/form.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard

http://library.thinkquest.org/C003603/english/snowstorms/whatsablizzard.shtml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Storm_of_the_Century